Bringing Wine & alcohol in to Cuba

[melies]

So My wife and I are going next month to Havana to celebrate our anniversary (isn't she the best wife?) so we were wondering if we can bring a bottle or 2 of wine in to Cuba? When we went on our honey moon to Napa, we bought some special bottles that we only like to drink during our anniversary.

So is it a go? or should we better buy our alcohol over there?

[Chelsea8]

IMO you should bring that special bottle or 2. You should be able to find some nice wine at the better restaurants but dont expect much from their minimarts, apart from mainly Chilean wines.

I am sure those who regularly go to Cuba should be able to chime in with their experience, as I only went last year, but had no problems bringing my bottle of single malt.

[str8dog]

We packed a couple of special bottles of California wine in our checked luggage last trip (also an anniversary). No problems,

[Nino]

No problem bringing 2 bottles in and no worries - enjoy your anniversary !!

BTW : If you're a wine lover, check out the cellar of "El Aljibe" restaurant ( food is standard chicken, rice & beans )

[Ryan]

As others have said, should be no problem at all. I always bring booze in with me, I know somebody there who likes Irish whiskey, I've never had a problem.

Do you have a specific concern? For example is it customs or theft or breakage you're worried about?

Has Nino says, El Aljibe has a good wine cellar, though I haven't been in it in a couple of years.

The Nacional hotel has a wine shop, beside where therir cigar roller sits.

There's also a decent enough selection (for Cuba) in a shop just at the front of the Habana Libre hotel. If you are looking at the front of the hotel, it's on the right.

[Guest rob]

Also, if you want to go out for a nice romantic dinner - try Rio Mar. It's a paladar right on the water looking towards the city, relatively intimate, and has a pretty decent selection of imported wines.

Have a great trip, mate.

[Nino]

Has Nino says, El Aljibe has a good wine cellar, though I haven't been in it in a couple of years.

Andy,

here's the wine cellar at El Aljibe last November with my Canuck friends :

[Ryan]

Great stuff Nino! Still a good looking cellar. Thanks for that.

[CUBANO]

Tu visitando mi pais en Mayo, y yo el tuyo. Me encanta Mexico.

[Dara]

CA mentioned before that El Aljibe had one of the best wine cellars in all of the Caribbean. If you do but wine there, pay or it in the cellar rather than getting it put on the bill, works out about 10-20% cheaper!

Like Andy I've brought many bottles of whiskey over (5 last November) and no problem bringing alcohol in

[tmac77]

Definitely a good idea to bring a couple of nice bottles of wine and champagne as, outside of a few nice places noted above decent wine is expensive and limited.

[El Presidente]

CA mentioned before that El Aljibe had one of the best wine cellars in all of the Caribbean. If you do but wine there, pay or it in the cellar rather than getting it put on the bill, works out about 10-20% cheaper!

Like Andy I've brought many bottles of whiskey over (5 last November) and no problem bringing alcohol in

The El Ajibe cellar is excellent. Ask for a tour.

Upstairs in the main dining area, ken found a bottle of port from 1930's if I remember correctly. it cost us 60 CUC. Brilliant

[melies]

Wow, Thanks all of you, I will go to your recommendations, and if you need anything from over there let me know I will take a bottle of Perrier Jouet that my wife loves and maybe a Napa Joseph Phelps Insignia (but not sure, being an american wine, I don't think I am that brave lol) also I'm planning on taking a bottle of SM whisky

Pres, I will go looking for that Vintage Port for sure!

Nino, me daré una vuelta por el Alebije tambien, muchas gracias por las recomendaciones y estoy usando tu blog como punto de referencia para la visita si vienes a México, aquí tienes tu hogar.

Rob, Ryan, Tmac, Dara, Chelsea8 and Str8dog else thanks for the tips.

[melies]

Tu visitando mi pais en Mayo, y yo el tuyo. Me encanta Mexico.

Si vienes por el DF Cubano, avisame y fumamos claro si es que no has regresado a Cuba hermano, y si necesitas recomendaciones avisame

[Nino]

Nino, me daré una vuelta por el Alebije tambien, muchas gracias por las recomendaciones y estoy usando tu blog como punto de referencia para la visita si vienes a México, aquí tienes tu hogar.

De nada, un placer y lo mismo para ti si pasas por aqui - Si algo necesitas de informacion o recomendaciones para tu viaje a La Habana me envias un mensaje, seria un gusto ayudar a un amigo saludos y os deseo un feliz viaje !!

[CUBANO]

Si vienes por el DF Cubano, avisame y fumamos claro si es que no has regresado a Cuba hermano, y si necesitas recomendaciones avisame

Gracias Amigo. Voy a ver a David y a Caridad en LCDH-Cancun.